Chip Goss heads the litigation section of Tacey Goss P.S.  Beginning with the King County Prosecutor’s Office, Mr. Goss has extensive courtroom experience in well over a hundred jury trials.  He has pursued civil claims to settlement, arbitration and trial in courts throughout our state, including arguing before Division I of the Court of Appeals and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Whether representing a corporation in a large class action lawsuit or a homeowner in a neighborhood dispute, Mr. Goss’ practice emphasizes individual attention to his clients’ needs in and outside the courts.

Practice Areas: Mr. Goss has successfully represented his clients in a broad spectrum of commercial and private matters, predominantly involving corporate shareholder and investor disputes, employment and wage claims, property development and financing disputes, and construction defect issues.  He also has claims involving insurance coverage and bad faith, products liability and premises liability, personal injury, wrongful death, and violations of civil rights.

Education: Mr. Goss is a cum laude graduate of the University of Puget Sound School of Law and three time American Jurisprudence Award Winner.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History/Political Science at the University of Washington.  Mr. Goss is a former member of the Alumni Board at Seattle University School of Law and has coached its regional trial competition teams.  Mr. Goss also has taught other lawyers at trial seminars.

Representative Cases:

Sharkansky v. King County et al., Snohomish Co. Sup. Ct. No. 05-2-12494-4

Successfully litigated violations of the Public Records Act (PDA) involving requests by a journalist for voting records from the historic 2004 Gregoire/Rossi election.  Established that over 2 ½ years the Elections Division failed to disclose records of as many as 31,000 questionably counted votes and approximately 170 outright illegal votes.  Negotiated on the eve of trial one of the largest settlements ever paid by King County for PDA violations.

Jordanv. Hy-Security Gate Inc., et al. No. 07-2-19958-6 KNT

Prosecuted unpaid wages claim for executive dismissed without cause.  Proved willful violation and obtained $110,778 judgment on jury verdict.

Novak v. Moa, Thurston Co. Sup. Ct. No. 05-2-01096-4
Obtained defense verdict for speculative mining corporation in three week trial over oppression and other claims brought by minority shareholders.  See Recent Opinions at http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/superior

Johnstonv. Wayne Golf Estates LLC, King Co. Sup. Ct. No. 06-2-10610-5 SEA.
Brought summary judgment motion on behalf of developer defending against landslide claims that resulted in plaintiffs’ voluntary dismissal of all claims prior to hearing.

Cyberphotoarchive LLC v. Vantage Point Direct LLC, King Co. Sup. Ct. No. 05-2-40442-6 SEA.
Obtained defense verdict for marketing consulting professionals in trial over product development and business strategy for an internet start-up company.

San JuanCountyv. No New Gas Tax, Thurston Co. Sup. Ct. No. 05-2-01205-3.
Defended initiative campaign against constitutional rights violations and wrongful injunction through abuse of public disclosure laws.  Lack of political advertising standard quoted in 9-0 Supreme Court ruling in favor of initiative campaign.  Opinion at 160 Wn.2d 141, 154, 157 P.3d 831 (2007).